California's jobless rate fell to from 10.6 to 10.2 percent in September in what may be the largest drop in 36 years, the state announced October 19.

The numbers from the Em­ployment Development Department show the largest tumble in the monthly unemployment rate since 1976, said Kevin Callori, a spokesman for the department. Callori warned that the California figures are preliminary and could be revised next month.

The rate in September was more than a full percentage point better than the 11.7 percent unemployment rate at the same time a year ago.